Wire-weaving machine.



A. L. KITSELMAN.

WKRE WEAVING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 191a.

1,28%,9Q5 Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

7$HEET$-$HEET l & 1 van/ran A. L. KITSELMAN WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.1, 1916.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

I SHEETS-.SHEEEZ.

A. MYSELF/IAN. WIRE WEAVLNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-1.19MB. 1,284,965.,

Patented NGV. 12, R318.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M/ van r01 A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mgu use. I. 1916.

l ,284,905. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

ISHEETS-SHEET 4.

Arr'YIs A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED use. I. 1916.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

1SHEETS-SHEET 5.

//V VENIO)? A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-1.1916.

Pn t ented Nov. 12, 1918.

7 SHEETSSHEEI 6.

A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 191a.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

ALVA L. KITSELMAN, 0F MUNCIE, INDIANA.

WIRE-WEAVIN G MACHINE.

nasaeoa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed December 1, 1916. Serial No. 134,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. ALVA L. KITSELMAN, a citizen of the United States, aresident of Munice, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in ire-Weaving Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention has reference to machines for weaving Wire fence fabrics;and is designed more especially for weaving light fabrics, such aspoultry netting or fabrics which are made up of comparatively light wirehaving small meshes, which may be used for trailing climbing vines andsimilar plants. If used as a poultry netting, it may be made in variouswidths or heights, up to six or seven feet or more, and if used forvines and plants, the fabric may be made in panels of different widths,as may be desired. 1

The present invention is an improvement upon the machine shown,described, and claimed in United States Letters Patent issued to meJanuary 9, 1912, No. 1,014,599.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a support fora plurality of wire connecting devices, and a means for operating saiddevices; said support adapted to be moved so as to deflect wires engagedby said connecting devices, and said operating means arranged to bemoved simultaneously with said support and connecting devices and in thesame direction and by a common means, whereby said operating meansmaintains its driving connection with said wire connecting devices atall times and in the different positions of said support.

The invention has for a further object to provide a support, a pluralityof wire connecting devices arranged in a row on said support, eachconnecting device including a gear, a gear wheel interposed between andmeshing with the gears of said connecting devices, an operating shaftjournaled on said support, and spiral gears spaced at intervals on saidoperating shaft, and meshing, preferably, with certain of saidinterposed gear wheels for transmitting movement from said shaft to saidconnecting devices.

The invention has for a further object to provide a support on which arejournaled a plurality of slotted wire connecting wheels, and means formoving the connected wires in the slots of said wheels to insure theirrelease from said wheels; said wire moving means comprisinglongitudinally movable bars having sloping faces which ride under andmove said wires in the slots of said wheels, and means for impartingforward and return movement to said bars.

A further object of the invention is to improve the wire twistingwheels, by providing each with a replaceable pin having a slot toreceive the wires to be twisted, and with a staple, the rounded bodyportions or stems of which are exposed, presenting smooth surfaces onwhich the wire or wires entering and leaving the wheels may ride.

The invention consists essentially of a revoluble support or drum, aplurality of twister supports spaced equidistantly around said revolublesupport or drum and adapted to be moved axially thereof, the alternatetwister supports being movable longitudinally in opposite directions,each twister support making one forward and return movement during eachcomplete rotation of said revoluble support or drum, an operating shaftjournaled on each twister support and arranged to be moved lengthwiseSimultaneously and in the same direction with each support, spiral gearson said shafts for actuating said twisters, and means to insure theremoval of the wires from each twister after each twisting operation.

For a further and full description of the invention herein and themerits thereof, and also to acquire a knowledge of the details ofconstruction of the means for effecting the result, reference is had tothe following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved machine, on a greatlyreduced scale, some parts being omitted to better illustrate theconstruction and operation of the same;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine, on thesame scale as Fig. 1, the sectional view of the revoluble support ordrum being as the same would appear if taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3is an end elevation, partly in section,

showing one of the segment gears for actuating certain of the shaftswhich operate cer tain of the twisters and one of the cams for lockingsaid shafts against rotation during a partial revolution of therevoluble support or drum, the parts being shown on a much larger scalethan Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4; is a cross-section of the revoluble support or drum, as the samewould appear if taken on the line 41 of Fig. 2, the draw ing beingof thesame scale as Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the revoluble support or drum, as the samewould appear if taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, the drawing being of thesame scale as Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail showing a part of one of the twister supports, theoperating means for the twisters and the means for moving said supportto deflect the wires engaged by the twisters, said moving means adaptedto move the twister actuating means at one and the same time and in thesame direction with said support;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section as the same would appear if taken on the line88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section as the same would appear if taken on the line99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a face view of one of the twisters;

Fig. 11' shows front and edge elevations of one of the staples;

Fig. 12 shows front and edge elevations of the slotted twister pins usedin the twisters;

Fig. 13 is a detail in plan, as the same would appear looking up underthe revoluble support or drum, at the right-hand side of Fig. 2,illustrating the cam parts and means engaging the same for reciprocatingthe bars which move the wires in the slots of the twisters; such figurealso showing the connection of wires to form one style of fabric;

Fig. 14- is an elevation of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a greatly reduced elevation of my machine showing the mannerof feeding the wires to the machine and rolling up the finished fabric.

Like characters denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The working parts of the machine are supported upon and between the sideframes or castings 1 and the bearing supports 2 and 3. 1 designates thedriving shaft, 5 the shaft on which are mounted the parts, to bedescribed, constituting the revoluble support or drum, and on said shaft5 is a large gear wheel 6 which is in mesh with and receives power froma smaller gear'wheel 7 on the driving shaft 4. 8 is a shaft on which ismounted a drum or equivalent means over which the completed fabricpasses on its way to the wrapper or reel 9, and the said shaft 8 isdriven from the shaft 5 through a gear wheel 10 which meshes with thegear wheel 6. The wrapper or reel 9 may be ofany suitable constructionand driven in any suitable manner.

The revoluble support comprising the drum includes the disk-like heads11 keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft 5 so as to rotatetherewith; said heads 11 being spaced apart so as to be at or near theopposite ends of the rows of twisting devices, to be described, andshould the machine be constructed to manufacture a relatively high fenceother and additional heads might be employed between the present heads11. The peripheral surfaces of the heads 11 are provided with theplurality of flat surfaces 13, and disposedaxially of the revolublesupport and having movement across said fiat surfaces 13 are a pluralityof pairs of preferably angle-shaped bars 12, the same being spaced fromeach other and having journaled therebetween a plurality of twistingwheels 1 1. These twisting wheels are each provided with gear teeth 15and with a slot 16 extending from its peripheral surface to the axis ofthe Wheel. To journal each of the wheels 14 between the pairs of bars12, said bars each have anannular recess 17 in their matching faces, andhaving abearing in said recesses are extended hub portions 18 of saidwheels. Each pair of bars are secured together to retain the twisterwheels in operative relation therebetween by connecting one end of eachof said bars to a web 19 of a bearing sleeve 20; said webs 19 beinginserted between the bars 12 and secured thereto by bolts 21, or othersecuring means. The opposite end of each of the bars 12 is likewiseconnected to a web 22 of a bearing sleeve 23; such webs being insertedbetween the bars 12 and secured thereto in like manner as the webs 19 ofthe bearing sleeves 20, that is, by bolts 21, or other securing means.The webs 19 and 22 of the respective bearing sleeves 20 and 23 servealso as the spacing means for retain ing the bars 12 in proper spacedrelation to insure the bars not binding upon the twisting wheels 14. Thebearing sleeves 20 and 23 are located outside the heads 11, the sleeves20 being somewhat longer than the sleeves 23 and having the laterallyextended stems 24 on which are journaled rollers 25, for purposes to beexplained. The sleeves 23 are normally spaced from the head 11 to allowfor the longitudinal movement of the bars 12 on the revoluble support.

In the operation of the machine, the alternate pairs of bars 12 arereciprocated in opposite directions during each revolution of thercvoluble support, and as a means ofaccomplishing this result thebearing sleeve 20 and roller 25 for one pair of bars 12 are located atone end and the sleeve and roller for the next succeeding pair of barsare located at the opposite end, and this arrangement is carried outalternately with each pair of bars 12.

Having a bearing in the sleeves 20 and 23 of each pair of 'bars 12,.is arotatable shaft 26. These shafts, as is obvious, extend axially of therevoluble support, and pass through openings 27 in the heads 11. Otherbearings are provided for the shafts 26, designated 28, and saidbearings are secured to the underside of the bars 12 by screws 29 (seeFig. 6) or other suitable means. There may be as many or as few bearings28 as necessity may require. On the end of each shaft 26 extendingbeyond the bearing sleeve 20, is carried a small gear wheel 30, forpurposes to be explained, and on each shaft 26 between the bearingsleeve 20 and the head 11, is carried a collar 31. The shafts 26 whenassembled in manner explained, retain the pairs of bars 12 inworkingposition on the flat surfaces 13 of the heads 11; and theconnection between the bearing sleeves 20 and 23 and the bars 12, andthe gear wheels 30 and collars 31, provides the means which make itpossible for reciprocating the bars 12 on the revoluble support andduring such reciprocation, reciprocate the shafts 26 simultaneouslytherewith.

It is through the shafts 26 that motion is imparted to the twisterwheels 14. I accomplish the transmission of motion from these shafts tothe twister wheels as follows: Disposed between the twister wheels andhaving bearings in the bars 12 are gear wheels 32, the teeth of thesegear wheels meshing in the teeth 15 of the twister wheels 14 nextadjacent. Each gear wheel 32 has oppositely extended hub portionssimilar to the hubs 18 of the twister wheels 14, and said hubs havebearings in recesses in the bars 12 similar to the recesses .17 in saidbars, in which the hubs of the twister wheels 14 have a bearing. On theshafts 26 at suitable intervals and meshing with only certain of thegear wheels 32 I provide spiral gear wheels 33. It is thus obvious thatwhen a shaft 26 is rotated the spiral gear wheels 33 thereon will rotatethe gear wheels 32 in meshing relation therewith and that said gearwheels 32 will, in turn, transmit movement to the next adjacent twisterwheels 14 and that such movement so imparted will be imparted to theentire complement of gear wheels 32 and twister wheels 14 journaledbetween each pair of bars 12. v

To actuate the shafts 26 the gear wheels 30 on the ends of each willintermittently mesh with the teeth of a segment gear wheel 34 extendingpart way around the surface of a drum 35. There are two of such drums35, one at each end of the revoluble support and bolted or otherwisesuitably secured to the frame of the machine. Each drum 35 is alsoprovided circun'iferentially on the surface thereof with a cam track 36in which move the rollers 25 journaled on the bearing sleeves 20. The

shape of these cam tracks 36 is such that the one at the left-hand endof the machine will cause the rollers 25 moving therein to shift thebars 12 and shaft 26, first toward the left-hand end of the machine andback again, one complete reciprocation of the bars 12 and shaft 26taking place during one revolution of the revoluble support. The camtrack 36 at the right-hand end of the machine causes the rollers 25moving therein to shift the bars 12 and shaft 26, first toward theright-hand end of the machine and back again, one complete reciprocationof the bars 12 and shaft 26 taking place during one revolution of therevoluble support.

Encircling only a portion of the surfaces of the drum 35 I provide thecam surfaces 37, and designed to have a bearing with and ride on saidcam surfaces 37 are the semi-circular bearing blocks 38 which extendaxially from the gear wheels 30 on the ends of the shafts 26. Therelation between the cam surfaces 37 and the segment gear wheels 34 onthe drums 35 is such that during a partial rotation of the revolublesupport the gear wheels 30 will enter into and mesh with the teeth ofthe segment gears 34 and impart rotation to the shafts 26 and thetwister wheels 14, in manner described, and that during the remainder ofthe revolution of said revoluble support, the flat surfaces of saidsemi-circular bearing blocks 38 will engage and ride on the cam surfaces37, holding the shafts 26 against rotation. The position of the end ofthe cam surface 37 and the beginning of the teeth of the segment gears34 on the revoluble support will be determined according to the meetingpoint of the wires to be connected by the twister wheels 14, and the endof the segment gears 34 and the beginning of the cam surfaces 37 on therevoluble support will be determined by the number of revolutionsnecessary or desirable to be given to the twister wheels 14, to connectthe wires of the fabric.

As previously stated, each twister wheel has a wire receiving slot 16,and to permit the wire or wires of the fabric to enter said slot thebars 12 are provided with slots 38'. To provide for a proper impingingrelation between the twister wheels and the wires to be twisted. in theslots thereof, while at the same time providing for the wear incident tosuch twisting operation, there is inserted into each twister wheel ahard steel pin 39. These pins each have the cylindrical body portion 40and the tapered split end 41, produeing the wire slot 42, and theopposite sides of said split portion of the pin have beveled surfaces 43to obviate sharp edges on the pin on which the wires will ride enteringand leaving the slot 42. Each twister wheel has an opening 44 into whicha pin 39 may be inserted and removed, and when the pin has been securedthe tapered split end 41 will be positioned in the slot 16 of thetwister Wheel. These pins will take up all the wear incident to thetwisting operation in the twister wheels and maybe replaced by otherpins when worn.

44 designates staples Which are arranged in pairs and connected to thepairs of bars 12 so as to bridge the same in the manner shown, thearcuate ends of said staples extending beyond the outer edges of thebars 12 and curved laterally as at 45 in opposite directions from eachother. The stems 46 of the staples are secured in the downwardly andoutwardly disposed sockets 47 in the bars 12, and the adjacent walls ofthe opposite sockets, being the walls of the slots 38 in said bars 12,are cut away as at 48 so as to expose the rounded surfaces of the stems46 of said staples 44' (see Fig. 9). These exposed portions of thestaples 44 present rounded smooth surfaces for the wires enteringandleaving the slots 38 in the bars 12 and can be easily replaced whenworn, instead of having the wires rub on the bars 12 and necessitatetheir being replaced at considerable eX-pense. The projecting and curvedends of the staples 44 form a guide and entrance way to the slots 88 inthe bars 12 and slots 16 in the twister wheels, for the wires of thefabric.

The strand or line wires A of the fabric are fed from suitable reels orspools, not shown, over guide wheels 49 on a shaft 50 down and aroundguide wheels 51 on a shaft 52 and down and around the revoluble support,entering the slots 88 in the bars 12 and the slots 16 of the twisterwheels 14 as they are rotated into receiving position by the revolublesupport, leaving the revoluble support in an approximately diametricposition from where the wires A enter the twister wheels and pass overthe drum on the shaft 8 and being wound on the reel or take-up device 9.The mesh-forming wires B are fed from suitable reels or spools, notshown, over guide wheels 49 disposed on the shaft 50 between the guidewheels 49 over which the wires A are carried, and down and around guidewheels 53 on a shaft 54. Said wires B enter the slots 38 of the bars 12and the slots 16 in the twister wheels 14 just prior to thereciprocation of the bars 12 and the operating shafts 26, in mannerdescribed, and when so shifted, the slots 38 in the bars 12 Willcoincide With the strand or line wires A which will next enter therein.The wires A and B will enter the slots 38 in the bars 12 and the slots16 of the twister wheels 14 just prior to the gear wheels 30 on theoperating shafts 26 entering into mesh with the teeth of the segmentgears 34.

To insure the removal of the twisted wires from the slots 42 in thesplit pins 89 in the twister wheels 14, at the point where the completedfabric leaves the'revoluble support, I provide the reciprocal bars 55arranged in pairs, one on each side of the bars 12, the correspondingends of the said bars connected by a cross-bar 56 which bridges the bars12 in the manner shown, and journaled approximately centrally of one ofsaid cross-bars 56, connecting each pair of bars 55, is a roller 57.

The bars 55 are each provided with the beveled surfaces 58 and 59converging toward each other, the point of meeting of such beveledsurfaces, when the bars 55 are in their normal retracted position, beingapproximately coincident with the bottom of the slot 88" in the bars 12,the surfaces 59 having a more gradual slope than the surfaces 58, for apurpose which I will now eXpla'in. When the bars 55' are reciprocated ina forward direction, the sloping surfaces 59 ride beneath the twistedportions C of the wires A and B causing the same to be moved out of theslots 42 in the pins 39 facilitatin'g their easy removal from the slots16in the twister wheels 14 and the slots 38 inthe bars 12; andimmediately after this said bars 55 are reciprocated in a reversedirection to their normal position shown in Fig. 6.

During the rotation of the revoluble support the rollers 57 in regularprogressive order will roll on the cam-surface 60 of the cam-block 61,which is of such a contour as will cause the bars 55 to be reciprocatedlengthwise on the bars 12 in a forward dimotion, and immediately uponthe rollers 57 leaving the cam-block 61, they will roll on the reverselydisposed cam surface 62 of the cam-block 63which will cause the bars tobe returned to their normal or initial positions. The cam-blocks 61 and63 are disposed at a suitable point underneath the revoluble support andare formed on or secured to a support 64.- connected with one of theside frames or castings 1 of the machine. The bars 55 are held againstlateral movement on the bars 12 by the cross-bars 56, and are guided intheir longitudinal movement and held against displacement on said bars12 by means of the plates 65 secured to the bars 12 (see Figs. 6, 13,and 14).

In the operation of the machine to manufacture fence fabric, the partshaving been assembled and the machine wired with strand or line wires Aand mesh-forming Wires B, power will be imparted to the driving shaft 4and reel shaft in any suitable manner, and said driving shaft willimpart motion to the revoluble support on the shaft 5 through the gearwheels 6 and 7. The rotation of the shaft 5' and the heads 11 willprogressively present the rollers 25, connected to the respective pairsof bars 12, to the ofiset 66 in the cam-tracks 86 and alternatelyreciprocate successive pairs of bars 12 in opposite directions,deflecting the mesh-forming wires 13, to form the meshes in the fabric.This movement of the pairs of bars 12 and the deflection of the wireswill take place before the bearing blocks 38 leave the cam-surfaces 37on the drums 35. Immediately after the deflection of the mesh-formingwires B, the bearing blocks 38 will ride 0d of the said cam surfaces 37and the gear wheels 30 will enter into mesh with the teeth of thesegment racks 34:, causing the operating shafts 26 to be rotated,imparting movement to the twister-wheels 1 1, and twisting the strand orline wires A and the mesh-forming wires B together in the manner shownin Fig. 13. During the twisting operation, the rollers 25 will travel inthe straight-away portions 67 of the cam tracks 86, and upon thecompletion of the twisting operation and after the twisted portions 0 ofthe wires have been moved in the slots of the twister wheels 14, by thebars 55, in manner explained, the rollers 25 will enter theangularlydisposed portions 68 of the said cam tracks 36, gradually returning thebars 12 and twister wheels to the positions they should be again in toreceive and deflect the mesh-forming wires 13. After the twistingoperation and at or about the. time the rollers 25 enter the portions 68of the cam tracks 36, the gear wheels 30 will leave the segment gears 34and the bearing blocks will engage and ride on the cam surfaces 37holding the operating shafts 26 against rotation.

As the rollers 25 leave the angularly disposed portions 68 of thecam-tracks 86 and enter the offsets 66, the bars 12, with which therollers are connected, will be moved in an endwise direction, and thebearing relation between the bearing-sleeves 20 and the gear wheels 30will simultaneously move the operating shafts 26 endwise in the samedirection with said bars 12, the driving relation between the spiralgear wheels 33 and the gear wheels 32 being maintained. When the rollers25 leave the straight-away portions 67 of the cam-tracks 36 and enterinto and travel through the angularly disposed portions 68 of saidcam-tracks, the connection between the rollers 25 and the bars 12 willcause the bars 12 to be reciprocated in an opposite direction, and thebearing relation between the bearing sleeves20 and the collars 31 willsimultaneously move the shafts 26 endwise in the same reverse direction.

This operation is continued, the reel or wrapper 9 taking up the fabricas it is finished, and when a sufiicient amount of fabric has been woventhe machine may be stopped, the roll of fabric removed, and theoperation of the machine again continued for the weaving of furtherfencing.

What I claim is 1. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of aplurality of wire connecting devices arranged in a row, a support forsaid wire connecting devices. means for moving said supportlongitudinally at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires ongagedby said connecting devices, an operating shaft in parallel relation withsaid support and movable longitudinally therewith, and driving means onsaid shaft operatively connected with said wire connecting devices.

2. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a traveling carrier, aplurality of wire connecting devices arranged in a row and supportedupon said carrier, means for moving said row of wire connecting devicesat predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged thereby duringthe travel of the carrier, an operating shaft in parallel relation withsaid row of connecting devices and movable endwise and with saidconnecting devices, and driving means on said shaft operativelyconnected with said wire connecting devices.

3. In a wire weaving machine, the con bination of a traveling carrier, aplurality of rows of supports mounted upon said carrier, a plurality ofwire connecting devices arranged in rows and carried by said supports,means for moving the successive supports lengthwise at predeterminedintervals for deflecting wires engaged by the connecting devices carriedthereby, an operating shaft for each row of connecting devices, saidshafts being in parallel relation with said supports and movablelengthwise therewith, and driving means on each of said shaftsoperatively connected with the wire connecting devices.

1. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a traveling carrier, aplurality of rows of supports mounted upon said carrier, a plurality ofwire connecting devices arranged in rows and carried by said supports,means for moving the successive supports lengthwise and in oppositedirections at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged bythe connecting devices carried thereby, an operating shaft for each rowof connecting devices, said shafts movable endwise with said supportsand in the direction of movement thereof, and driving means on each ofsaid shafts operatively connected with the wire connecting devices.

In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support adapted totravel in an endless orbit, a plurality of rows of wire connectingdevices arranged on said support, means for shifting simultaneously andin succession each row of wire connecting devices at predeterminedintervals during the movement of said support for deflecting wiresengaged by said connecting devices, a plurality of operating shafts, onefor each row of connecting devices and shiftable endwise with itsrespective row of connecting devices, driving means on each shaftoperatively connected with the wire connecting devices, and means foroperating said operating shafts.

6. In a wire weaving machine, the combi nation of a plurality of Wireconnecting devices arranged in a row, a support for said Wire connectingdevices, an operating shaft extending lengthwise of said support andjournaled thereon, driving means on said shaft operatively connectedwith said connecting devices, means for moving said sup port lengthwiseto deflect wires engaged by said connecting device, said moving meansadapted to move said operating shaft'simultaneously with and in the samedirection with said support, and means for intermittently operating saidoperating shaft, the operation of said shaft taking place subse quentlyto the deflection of the wires.

7. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a plurality of twisterwheels arranged in a row, each having gear teeth and provided with awire-receiving slot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheelsand in mesh with the teeth thereof, a common support for said twisterwheels and said'interposed gear wheels, means for moving said supportlengthwise at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged bysaid twister wheels, an operating shaft in parallel relation with saidsupport and movable longitudinally therewith, a plurality of gear wheelson said operating shaft meshing with certain of said interposed gearwheels on said support, and means for intermittently operating saidshaft.

8. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a plurality of twisterwheels arranged in a row, each having gear teeth and provided with awire-receiving slot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheelsand in mesh with the teeth thereof, a common support for said twisterwheels and said interposed gear wheels, means for moving said supportlengthwise at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged bysaid twister wheels, an operating shaft in parallel relation with saidsupport and movable longitudinally therewith, spiral gearwheels spacedat intervals on said operating shaft, said spiral wheels in mesh withonly certain of said interposed gear wheels, and means forintermittently operating said operating shaft.

9; In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a pluralityof twister wheels journaled on said support, said twister wheels eachhaving gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, interposedgear wheels in mesh with the teeth of said twister wheels, an operatingshaft disposed lengthwise of said support, bearmgs for said shaft onsaid support, gear wheels on said shaft in mesh with certain of saldinterposed gear wheels on said support, means common to both saidsupport and sald shaft for moving the same lengthwise alternately inopposite directions, a gear wheel on one end of said shaft, a segmentgear with which said gear wheel has an intermittent meshing relation,acam, and means on said last-mentioned gear wheel adapted to engage saidcam for intermittently locking said operating shaft against rotation.

10. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurailtyof twister wheels journaled on said support, said twlster wheels eachhaving gear teeth and provided with a wire-reeciving slot, interposedgear wheels in mesh with the teeth of said twister wheels, an operatingshaft disposed lengthwise of said support, bearings for said shaft onsaid support, gear wheels on sald shaft in mesh with certain of saidinterposed gear wheels on said support, a roller ourna1ed on one of saidbearings, a cam engaged by said roller for intermittently reclprocatingthe support and operatmg shaft alternately in opposite directions, meansfor intermittently operating the operatmg shaft, and means for holdingsaid shaft against rotation alternately with the periods of itsoperation.

11. In a wire weaving machine, the comblnatlon of a support, a pluralityoftw'ister wheels journaled in spaced'relation on said support, eachtwister wheel having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot,interposed gear wheels journaled on said support and meshing with theteeth of i said twister wheels, an operating shaft in parallel relationwith andjournaled on said support, spiral gear wheels disposed atintervals on said operating shaft, each spiral gear wheel meshing with acertain interposed gear wheel, and means for intermittently operatingsaid operating shaft.

12. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of 'a support, aplurality of twister wheels journaled in spaced relation on saidsupport, each twister wheel having gear teeth and provided with awire-receiving slot, interposed gear wheels journaled on said supportand meshing with the teeth of said twister wheels, an operating shaft inparallel relation with, and journaled on said support, spiral gearwheels disposed at intervals on said operating shaft, each spiral gearwheel meshing with a certain interposed gear wheel, meanscommon to boththe support and said operating shaft for reciprocating the samealternately in opposite directions, the meshing relation between thespiral gear wheels and said interposed gear wheels being maintainedduring the reciprocation of said support and said shaft, means forintermittently operating said operating shaft, the operation of saidshaft occurring after the reciprocation of said support and shaft in onedirection, and means operating alternately with the operation of saidshaft for holding the same against rotation.

13. In a wire Weaving machine, the combination of a support, including apair of spaced parallel bars, bearings at the opposite ends of said barshaving spacing means disposed between the bars and secured there to, anoperating shaft disposed longitudinally of said support and journaled insaid bearings at the opposite ends thereof, a plurality of twisterwheels journaled between the bars forming said support, each twisterwheel having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot,interposed gear wheels journaled between the bars of said support andmeshing with the teeth of said twister wheels, spiral gear wheelsdisposed at intervals on said operating shaft, each spiral gear wheelmeshing with a certain interposed gear wheel, means common to both saidsupport and said shaft ,for intermittently reciprocating the same inopposite directions, and means for operating said operating shaft afterits reciprocation in one direction.

14. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a pluralityof twister wheels journ-aled on said support, each twister wheel havinggear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, said support alsoprovided with wire-receiving slots which are coincident with the aXes ofsaid twist-er wheels, an operating shaft, driving means on said shaftoperatively connected with said twister wheels, means for intermittentlyoperating said operating shaft, means movable lengthwise of the supportand adapted to move wires engaged in the slots of the twister wheelsradially of said wheels, and means for intermittently reciprocating saidwire moving means.

15. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a pluralityof twister wheels journaled on said support, each twister wheel havinggear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, said support alsoprovided with wire-receiving slots which are coincident with the axes ofsaid twister wheels, an operating shaft, driving means on said shaftoperatively connected with said twister wheels, means for intermittentlyoperating said operating shaft,

, bars reciprocally carried on said support and having sloping surfacesadapted to ride under and engage wires in the slots of the twisterwheels for moving the wires radially of said wheels, and means forinterspiral gear wheels in meshing relation with certain of saidinterposed gear wheels, and means for operating said shaft.

17 In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a pluralityof twister wheels j ournaled in spaced relation in a row on saidsupport, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with awirereceiving slot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheelsand meshing with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft disposedlongitudinally of the support and journaled thereon, gear wheels on saidshaft meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means foroperating said shaft, and means movable longitudinally of the support,adapted to engage and move the wires in the slots of said twisterwheels.

18. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a pluralityof twister wheels journaled in spaced relation in a row on said support,said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receivingslot, gearwheels interposed between said twister wheels and meshing withthe teeth thereof, an operating shaft disposed longitudinally of thesupport and ournaled thereon, gear wheels on said shaft meshing withcertain of said interposed gear wheels, means for operating said shaft,bars reciprocally carried on said support adapted to en gage with wiresin the slots of the twister wheels and move said wires in said slots,and means for reciprocating said bars in opposite direction, thereciprocation of said bars occurring after the twisting of the wires bythe twister wheels.

19. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a pluralityof twister wheels journaled in spaced relation in a row on said support,said twister wheels having gear teeth provided with a wire-receivingslot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and meshingwith the teeth thereof, an operating shaft disposed longitudinally ofthe support and journaled thereon, gear wheels on said shaft meshingwith certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for operating saidshaft, bars reciprocally carried on said support and having slopingsurfaces which normally coincide with the slots in the twister wheels,and

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which coincide with the axes of said twisterwheels, gear wheelsinterposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeththereof, an operating shaft, gear wheels on said shaft in mesh withcertain of said in= terposed gear wheels, means for operating saidshaft, and staple-like members arran ed in airs and connected with saidbars upon opposite sides of the wire-receiving slots therein, portionsof said members being exposed to present a rounded surface upon whichthe wires will ride and entering the slots in the bars and the slot inthe twister wheels.

21. In a wire weaving machine, the combination. of a support including apair of spaced bars, a plurality of twister wheels journaled betweensaid bars in spaced relation, said twister wheels having gear teeth andprovided with a wire-receiving slot, said bars provided withwire-receiving slots which coincide with the axes of said twisterwheels, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in meshwith the teeth thereof, an operating shaft, gear wheels on said shaft inmesh with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for operatingsaid shaft,staple-like members arranged in pairs andconnected with saidbars upon opposite sides of the wire-receiving slots therein, portionsof said members being exposed to present a rounded surface upon whichthe wires will ride and entering the slots in the bars and the slot inthe twister wheels, and means reciprocally carried on said support andadapted to engage the wires and move the same in said slots.

22. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, saidsupport including a pair of longitudinal bars in spaced relation andhaving wire-receiving slots at intervals therein, a plurality of twisterwheels journaled between the bars of said support, a twister wheel beinglocated coincident with the wire-receiving slots in said bars and havinggear teeth and also provided with a wire-receiving slot, means foroperating said twister wheels, and staplelike members arranged in pairsand disposed upon opposite sides of the wire-receiving slots in saidbars, said staple-like members bridging said bars and their arcuateportionsv curved'in opposite directions to pr0- vide a guide-way for theentrance of the wiresinto the wire receiving slots of the bars and saidtwister wheels,.the portions of the said staple-like members secured insaid bars being exposed approximately the whole length of thewire-receiving slots in the bars to provide rounded surfaces on whichthe wires will ride when entering and leaving said wire-receiving slots.

23. In a wire weaving machine, thecombination of a support, said supportincluding a pair oflongitudi-nal bars in spaced relation, and havingwire-receiving slots at intervals therein, a plurality of twister wheelsjourna-ledbetween the bars ofsaid support, a twister wheel being locatedco incident with the wire-receiving slots insaid bars and having gearteeth and also provided-with a wire receiving slot, means'for operatingsaid twister wheels, staple-like members arranged in pairs and disposedupon'opposite sides-of the wire-receiving slots in saidLbars, saidstaple-like members bridging said bars and their arcuatevportions curvedin opposite directions to provide a guideway for the entrance of thewires into the wire-receiving .slots of the bars and saidtwister-wheels,:the portions of the said staple-like members secured insaid bars being exposed approximatelyithe whole length of thewire-receivmg slots in the bars to provide rounded surfaces on which thewires will ride when entering and leaving said wire-receiving slots, andmeans movable longitudinally of the bars adapted to engage and move thewires in the wirereceiving slots in the bars and twister wheelssubsequent to the twisting operation.

24. In -a wire weaving machine, the combination of a revoluble drum, aplurality of twister wheels arranged in rows on said drum, each twisterwheel having gear teeth and provided with wire-receiving slots, gearwheels interposed between the twister wheels and meshing with the teeththereof, an operating shaft common to eachrow of twister wheels, gearwheels'in spaced relation upon said operating shafts and meshing withcertain of said interposed gear wheels, means for intermittentlyoperating said shafts during the rotation of the drum,

.a pair of bars common to each rowof twister wheels, mounted onsaiddrum, and adapted to ,be reciprooated in opposite directions during therotation of the drunrto engage and move the wires insaid twister wheels,a roller connected with each pair of bars, and means adapted to beengaged by said rollers during the rotation of the drum forreciprocating said bars subsequent to the twisting operation of-each rowof twisters.

25. In awire weaving machine, the combination of a-shaft, heads securedto said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with eachother, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted tobe reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheelsarranged in spaced relation and journaled between each pair of bars,said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receivingslots, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slotscoincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposedbetween said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, anoperating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled in each pair ofreciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through saidheads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to bereciprocated therewith, means for operating certain of said interposedgear wheels from said operating shafts, means for rotating saidfirst-mentioned shaft and heads, means for reciprocating said pairs ofbars in opposite directions during the rotation of said heads, and meansfor actuating said operating shafts in succession during the rotation ofsaid heads.

26. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads securedto said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with eachother, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted tobe reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheelsarranged in spaced relation and journaled between each pair of bars,said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receivingslots, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slotscoincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposedbetween said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, anoperating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled in each pair ofreciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through saidheads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to bereciprocated therewith, spiral gear wheels in spaced relation on saidoperating shafts, said spiral gear wheels meshing with certain of saidinterposed gear wheels, means for rotating said first-mentioned shaftand heads, means for reciprocating said pairs of bars in oppositedirections during the rotation of said heads, and means for actuatingsaid operating shafts in succession during the rotation of said heads. a

27. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads securedto said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with eachother, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adaptedtov be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheelsarranged in spaced relation and journaled between each pair of bars,said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receivingslots, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slotscoincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposedbetween said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, anoperating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled in each pair ofreciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through saidheads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to bereciprocated therewith, means for operating certain of said interposedgear wheels from said operating shafts, means for rotating saidfirst-mentioned shaft and heads, means for reciprocating said pairs ofbars in opposite directions during the rotation of said heads, means foractuating said operating shafts in succession during the rotation ofsaid heads, and means reciprocally associated with each pair of barsadapted when moved in one direction to engage and move wires in theslots of the twister wheels and in said slots in the twister supportingbars.

28. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads securedto said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with eachother, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted tobe reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheelsarranged in spaced relation and j ournaled between each pair of bars,said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receivingslots, said twister supporting bars provided with wirereceiving slotscoincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposedbetween said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, anoperating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled' in each pair ofreciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through saidheads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to bereciprocated therewith, spiral gear wheels in spaced relation on saidoperating shafts, said spiral gear wheels meshing with certain of saidinterposed gear wheels, means for rotating said first-mentioned shaftand heads, means for reciprocating said pairs of bars in oppositedirections during the rotation of said heads, bars reciprocallyassociated with each pair of twister wheel supporting bars, said barshaving sloping surfaces adapted to ride under and engage wires in theslots of the twister wheels and in the slots in said twister supportingbars, to move said wires in said slots, rollers connected with saidbars, and cams adapted to be engaged by said rollers during the rotationof said heads for the purpose of reciprocating said bars and moving saidwires.

29. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads securedon said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with eachother, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted tobe reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheelsjournaled between each pair of bars, a plurality of operating shafts,one shaft for each pair of twister supporting bars, said operatingshafts being carried through said heads and journaled in bearingsconnected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith, means foractuating said twister wheels from said operating shafts, drums carriedon said first-mentioned shaft outside of and adjacent to said heads,said drums secured non-rotatably on said shaft, cam tracks arrangedfonsaid drums, rollers connected with the corresponding ends of every otherpair of twister supporting bars adapted to travel in the cam track onone of said drums for reciprocating said bars and their operatingshafts, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction duringthe rotation of the heads, rollers connected with the opposite ends ofthe alternate sets of twister supporting bars adapted to travel in thecam track of the other of said drums for reciprocating said bars andtheir operating shafts, first in one direction and then in the oppositedirection during the rotation of the heads, the alternate pairs of barsand associated operating shafts being successively and alternatelyreciprocated in opposite directions during the rotation of the heads,segment glear wheels connected with each of said drums, gear wheelssecured on the opposite ends of each alternate operating shaft, saidgear wheels during the rotation of said heads adapted to mesh with theirrespective segment gear wheels, and means for operating saidfirst-mentioned shaft.

30. In a wire weavii'i'g machine, the combination of a shaft, headssecured on said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation witheach other, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said'heads andadapted to be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a

plurality of twister wheels journaled be tween each pair of bars, saidtwister wheels having gear teeth and provided with a wirereceii' ingslot, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slotscoincident with the axes of the twister wheels, a plurality of operatingshafts, one shaft for each pair of twister supporting bars, saidoperating shafts being carried through said heads and journaled inbearings connected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith,means for actuating said twister wheels from said operating shafts,drums carried on said first-mentioned shaft outside of and adjacent tosaid heads, said drums ed to travel in the cam track on one of saiddrums for reciprocating said bars and their operating shafts, first inone direction and then in the opposite direction during the rotation ofthe heads, rollers connected with the opposite ends of the alternatesets of twister supporting bars adapted to travel in the cam track ofthe other of said drums for reciprocating said bars and their operatingshafts, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction duringthe rotation of the heads, the alternate pairs of bars and associatedoperating shafts being successively and alternately reciprocatedin'opposim directions during the rotation of the heads, segment gearwheels connected with each of said drums, gear wheels secured on the opposite ends ofeach alternate operating shaft, said gear wheels duringthe rotation "of said heads adapted to mesh with their respectivesegment gear wheels, bars reciprocally associated with each pair oftwister supporting bars and having sloping surfaces adapted to be movedto engage with wires carried in the slots of the twister wheels and inthe slots of the said twister wheel supporting bars to move the wiresinthesaidslots, roll crs connected with said bars, cams adapted to beengaged by said rollers during the rotation of said heads forreciprocating said bars in opposite directions, and means for operatingsaid first-mentioned shaft.

31. In a wire y'veaving'inachine, the combination of a revolublesupport, a plurality of twister wheel sHPP rtS mounted on saidrevol'uble support, a plurality of twister wheels journaled on saidtwister supports, each of said twister wheels "having gear teethprovided with wire-receiving slots,

said twister supports provided with wirereceiving slots coincident withthe axes of said twister wheels, means for reciprocating the successivetwister-supports progressively 1n opposite directions to deflect wiresengaged in the slots of the twister supports and said twister wheelsduring "the rotation of said revoluble support, gearing connecting saidtwister wheels and adapted to actuate the same ata predetermined pointduring the rotation of said revoluble support, and means reciprocallymounted on said twister supports for engaging and moving the wiresin'the slots ofthe twistersupports and the slots in the twister wheelsat a predetermined point in the rotation of said revoluble support andsubsequently to the operation of said'twister wheels, the saidlast-mentioned means being successively and progressively reciprocatedin the same direction during the rotation of said'revoluble support.

32. In awire weaving machine,'the combination of a revoluble support, a"plurality of twister wheel supporting bars reciprocally mounted on saidrevoluble support, twister wheels j ournaled in said twister supports,said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receivingslots, interposed gear wheels journaled on said support and meshing withthe teeth of said twister wheels, an operating shaft for each twisterwheel support, said shafts journaled on said supports and adapted to bereciprocated therewith, spiral gear wheels in spaced relation on saidoperating shafts and meshing with certain of said interposed gearwheels, means for reciprocating said twister supports and operatingshafts simultaneously in opposite directions at predetermined pointsduring the rotation of said revoluble support for deflecting wiresengaged in said slots of the twister wheels, the meshing relation of thespiral gear wheels and said interposed gear Wheels being maintained atall times during the rotation of said revoluble support andreciprocation of said twister supports and operating shafts, and meansfor operating said operating shafts at a predetermined point during therotation of said revoluble supports for the purpose oftwisting wiresengaged in the slots of the twister wheels, and means for rotating saidrevoluble support.

38. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a pair of parallelarranged twister wheel supporting bars, means for securing said barstogether, a plurality of slotted twister wheels arranged in spacedrelation with each other and journaled between said bars, said barshaving wire-receiving slots which coincide with the axes of the twisterwheels, an operating shaft, a plurality of bearings secured to said barsin which said operating shaft is journaled, means for operating saidtwister wheels from said shaft, and means common to both said bars andsaid shaft for reciprocating the same in opposite directions for thepurpose of deflecting wires engaged by said twister wheels, the rotationbetween said operating means and said operating shaft being maintainedduring the reciprocation of said bars and said shaft.

ALVA L. KITSELMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

